ON ANOTHER LIST I AM ON, ONE OF THE MEMBERS WROTE TO THE MAN IN THE SIGNATURE LINE BELOW AND HERE IS THE ANSWER:
"The phytosanitary certificate requirement for imported plants and seeds is still required by Federal regulations. APHIS policy regarding the enforcement of that requirement has not changed. However, a proposed rule is being drafted within APHIS that addresses the issue of importing small quantities of seeds without a phytosanitary certificate.
HE WENT ON TO SAY:
"I will inform the staff responsible for that proposal of your interest in this issue and ask that they copy you on any Federal Register notices that may be published."
Bud Petit de Mange
CITES and Plant Inspection Station Coordinator
USDA, APHIS, PPQ
[United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine]
4700 River Road, Unit 60
Riverdale, MD 20737
Tel.: (301) 734-7839
Fax: (301) 734-5269"
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE RULES RELAXED, IT MAY BE WORTH YOUR TIME TO WRITE TO THIS MAN. NEW ZEALANDERS ARE WORKING HARD TO CHANGE THE CURRENT REGULATIONS. MAYBE WE CAN HELP.
Possible relaxation in U.S. phyto. policy for seeds
Thank you for sharing this important information.
Lavanda